Black & Yellow | Pittsburgh Steelers M26

[djp73]

Bumblebees >>

[Caesar]

Calling shenanigans on beating Denver, but you can make up for your sins by beating the Chargers.

[ShireNiner]

Calling Soapy a “critic” now?

[redsox907]

chargers some ass on defense, easy dub

not as easy as I thought, but dubs be dubing

Bumblebees >>

this man gets it

Calling shenanigans on beating Denver, but you can make up for your sins by beating the Chargers.

Calling Soapy a “critic” now?

Silky "Soapy" Johnson

[redsox907]

Aubrey Saves the Day Once Again With Clutch Field Goals In Final Two Minutes


Aubrey laced a 53 yard field goal to tie the game, then this 27 yarder to win it as the Steelers edged the Chargers at SoFi.

Team	Q	Time	Play	Pittsburgh	Los Angeles
	1st	7:17	Omarion Hampton, 23 Yd Pass From Justin Herbert	0	7
	1st	1:35	Quinshon Judkins, 1 Yd Run	7	7
	2nd	8:23	Omarion Hampton, 2 Yd Run	7	14
	2nd	3:11	Keaton Mitchell, 39 Yd Pass From Anthony Richardson	14	14
	2nd	2:57	Omarion Hampton, 69 Yd Run	14	21
	3rd	5:43	Kaleb Johnson, 1 Yd Run	21	21
	3rd	3:10	Oronde Gadsen II, 23 Yd Pass From Justin Herbert	21	28
	3rd	0:11	Ryan Williams, 28 Yd Pass From Anthony Richardson	28	28
	4th	4:28	Cameron Dicker, 35 Yd FG	28	31
	4th	1:22	Brandon Aubrey, 53 Yd FG	31	31
	4th	0:18	Brandon Aubrey, 27 Yd FG	34	31

Los Angeles, CA. - For the second straight week, the Pittsburgh Steelers turned to kicker Brandon Aubrey to save the day. And for the second straight week, he delivered.

Aubrey drilled a pair of field goals in the final two minutes, including the game-winner with 18 seconds left, to lift Pittsburgh to a 34-31 victory over the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday at SoFi Stadium. The win keeps the Steelers perfect at 3-0, though once again it required late-game heroics to escape with a victory.
Hampton Dominates First Half

The Chargers leaned heavily on rookie running back Omarion Hampton in the first half, and the North Carolina product responded with a dominant performance.

Hampton scored all three of Los Angeles' first-half touchdowns, taking advantage of a pair of Anthony Richardson interceptions to help the Chargers build a 21-14 halftime lead.

Pittsburgh opened the 2nd half with a methodical drive that ended with Kaleb Johnson punching it in from one yard out. But Los Angeles answered immediately, with Justin Herbert finding tight end Oronde Gadsden wide open in the end zone for a 23-yard touchdown strike.

Ryan Williams extended his strong start to his rookie season with a 28-yard touchdown catch-and-run in the third quarter, showcasing the explosiveness that made him a top-five pick. The score knotted the game at 21-21 and seemed to shift momentum in Pittsburgh's favor.

The teams traded scores throughout the third quarter before entering the fourth tied at 28-28, setting the stage for a kicking duel that would decide the outcome.
Kickers Take Center Stage

Los Angeles grabbed a 31-28 lead early in the fourth quarter with a 35-yard field goal after linebacker Patrick Queen's sack stalled a promising Chargers drive at the Pittsburgh 17-yard line.

The Steelers had a chance to reclaim the lead on their next possession, driving into Los Angeles territory before a sack and a critical third-down drop by tight end Pat Freiermuth forced Aubrey onto the field for a 54-yard attempt with 1:47 remaining.
Aubrey crushed it through the uprights to tie the game at 31-31, silencing the SoFi Stadium crowd.

Pittsburgh's defense then forced a quick three-and-out, giving Richardson and the offense one more opportunity with 52 seconds left and three timeouts.

The reigning MVP wasted no time. Richardson found DK Metcalf streaking down the sideline for a 40-yard gain that moved the Steelers into Chargers territory. Two plays later, the drive stalled at the Los Angeles 12-yard line, and Aubrey trotted out for his second game-winning kick in as many weeks.

This time from 50 yards, Aubrey split the uprights, sending the Pittsburgh sideline into celebration.

Los Angeles had one final desperation opportunity, but Herbert's Hail Mary attempt was swatted down by cornerback Joey Porter Jr., and the Steelers escaped SoFi Stadium with a 34-31 victory.


Anthony Richardson | 29/44, 334 Yds, 2 TD, 2 INT; 6 Att, 53 Yds
Justin Herbert | 16/32, 194 Yds, 2 TD

Kaleb Johnson | 12 Att, 41 Yds, TD
Omarion Hampton | 11 Att, 124 Yds, 2 TD; 2 Rec, 39 Yds, TD

Ryan Williams (R) | 9 Rec, 86 Yds, TD
WR Landon McConkey | 5 Rec, 85 Yds

MLB Patrick Queen | 4 Tkl, TFL, Sack
EDGE TJ Watt 3 Tkl, TFL, 0.5 Sack
DT DJ Reader | 2 Tkl, TFL, 0.5 Sack
EDGe Josaiah Stewart | 6 Tkl, 4 TFL, 1.5 Sacks, INT
MLB Daiyan Henley | 9 Tkl, 3 TFL, 0.5 Sack
CB Michael Carter II | 7 Tkl

[djp73]

W is a W

[ShireNiner]

Squeezing out wins like a true champion. Time for people to start hating you like Chiefs and Patriots. Win a championship then you start winning these close games, probably because of the refs helping you.

[redsox907]

W is a W

closer than I thought but a dub is a dub

Squeezing out wins like a true champion. Time for people to start hating you like Chiefs and Patriots. Win a championship then you start winning these close games, probably because of the refs helping you.

we win with skillz, not cheating

[redsox907]

Anthony Richardson, Steelers Begin Contract Negotiations

Pittsburgh, PA. - The Pittsburgh Steelers and reigning NFL MVP Anthony Richardson have officially begun contract extension negotiations, and as expected, the discussions are centered around a massive payday for the 25-year-old quarterback.
The question isn't whether Richardson will get paid. It's how much, and how the Steelers will structure a deal that keeps their championship window open.

According to a source close to the negotiations, Richardson isn't looking to become the NFL's highest-paid quarterback, partly out of respect to Pittsburgh for giving him a second chance after his tumultuous stint in Indianapolis, but he definitely wants to be compensated as an elite signal-caller.

The baseline for discussions is Joe Burrow's five-year, $275 million extension signed with the Cincinnati Bengals in 2023. However, multiple league insiders expect the final deal to land closer to six years and $330 million, which would make Richardson one of the top-five highest-paid quarterbacks in the NFL.

The structure of the contract will be crucial. The Steelers need to balance Richardson's well-deserved payday with the reality that several other key players are also seeking extensions. How much guaranteed money Richardson receives, and how the cap hits are distributed across the life of the deal, could determine whether Pittsburgh can retain their championship core or be forced into difficult decisions down the line.

"Anthony knows what he's worth, but he also knows what it takes to win," the source said. "He's not trying to cripple the team. There's definitely room to work here."

The Steelers, for their part, are not exploring any other avenues at quarterback. Richardson has finally stabilized the position after years of uncertainty following Ben Roethlisberger's retirement, and the organization is fully committed to building around him for the foreseeable future.

Richardson's deal is just the beginning of an expensive string of re-signings for Pittsburgh. Center Zach Frazier is reportedly seeking a three-year, $46.9 million contract, which would make him one of the highest-paid centers in the league. Frazier has been a cornerstone of the Steelers' offensive line since being drafted, and locking him up long-term is considered a priority.

Linebacker Payton Wilson is also seeking a three-year, $28 million extension. The young linebacker has developed into a key piece of Pittsburgh's defense, and his combination of speed and instincts makes him valuable in coordinator Teryl Austin's scheme.

Perhaps the most intriguing situation involves edge rusher Alex Highsmith, who is also a pending free agent. Despite winning Defensive Player of the Year last season, sources indicate the Steelers are not planning to explore an extension with the pass rusher during the season.

Even more surprising: Pittsburgh may be content to let Highsmith walk in free agency.

The decision would be purely financial. With T.J. Watt still commanding a significant portion of the defense's salary cap and younger, cheaper edge rushers developing in the system, the Steelers may view Highsmith as a luxury they can't afford once Richardson's extension kicks in.

It's a cold-blooded calculation, but one that reflects the harsh realities of managing a championship roster in the salary cap era. Highsmith will command top-tier money on the open market, and Pittsburgh may decide that money is better spent elsewhere.

These contract negotiations will define the Steelers' championship window for the next half-decade. Get the Richardson deal right — balancing his value with team-friendly structure — and Pittsburgh can remain competitive while retaining key pieces like Frazier and Wilson.

Overpay or guarantee too much too early, and the Steelers could find themselves in salary cap hell, forced to gut the supporting cast that helped Richardson win MVP in the first place.

GM Omar Khan has navigated these waters skillfully so far, stockpiling cost-controlled talent and making shrewd trades to maximize flexibility. But Richardson's extension will be the ultimate test of his roster-building philosophy.

[The JZA]

JP Jr. clutching